The Murfreesboro City Council accepted a 13-acre donation for water recreation land at a "Farmer Lake" linked to West Fork Stones River and near southwest corner of New Salem Highway (state Route 99) and Warrior Drive.
Scott Broden/DNJ

This Google image shows a "Farmer Lake," center left, where developer Mark Pirtle donated land near southwest corner of New Salem Highway and Warrior Drive to the Murfreesboro government for parks and recreational uses. Pirtle is developing a Riverwatch apartment complex for 328 units by the donated land.(Photo: Google)

Murfreesboro residents gained future recreational water access near the southwest corner of New Salem Highway and Warrior Drive and the Stones River Greenway thanks to a donation.

The City Council accepted the 13-acre donation Thursday from Mark Pirtle, who's developing a Riverwatch apartment complex for 328 units by "Farmer Lake."

Pirtle's donation includes a 50-foot wide access from Warrior Drive and a 50-foot stream bank protection area along the entire northeasterly bank of the lake, states a letter to the council from Parks and Recreation Director Angela Jackson.

"It would also provide fishing access and other access to the lake for the general public, as well as for the development's residents and visitors," Jackson says in her letter. "Eventually, subject to funds availability, it could be improved with a stable access for canoes, kayaks and other such non-motorized watercraft."

Lakeside trail will link to greenway

Pirtle has agreed to construct a paved walking-bicycle trail within the stream bank protection area and provide an adjacent conservation easement area during construction of the apartments, according to Jackson's letter.

"This trail will eventually connect, via the commercial property to be developed on the northern portion of the property, to a sidewalk along (New Salem Highway), allowing access to the west side of the river and the city’s existing greenway trail system," Jackson says in her letter. "Future maintenance of the trail will be the responsibility of the city."

The 50-foot stream bank protection area is beyond an existing old stone wall, according to the letter.

"This will give the city the right, but not the obligation, to restore and maintain this stone wall as an amenity to the trail," Jackson says in her letter.

The donation will benefit the city, Councilman Eddie Smotherman said.

"It's adding another amenity to the greenway system that will be a nice place to carry children for fishing and for kayakers to train in," said Smotherman, who also serves on the city's Parks and Recreation Commission.

Project helps city meet long-term goals

The plan also calls for the city to seek open space, including wetlands, floodplains, streams, other water bodies, woodlands and natural areas.

The lake formed because of a dam to the West Fork Stones River southeast of a bridge on New Salem Highway, according to Jackson's letter.

Prior to the council accepting the donation, the city's Greenway Committee, Parks and Recreation and Planning commissions all voted to recommend the land agreement, Assistant City Attorney David Ives told the council.

The city budget does not include funding to improve land by Farmer Lake, but projects could be included in the future, Ives said.

Greenway Committee Chairman Kent Syler recalled a unanimous vote in 2015 to recommend acceptance of the land donation from Pirtle.

"We approved it because we’re excited about the recreational opportunities the lake can offer," said Syler, who noted how the lake is near the greenway. "It really worked out well with our overall plan for greenways and bikeways and blueways (access to Stones River, lakes, creeks, springs). So we’re appreciative to the Pirtles for their interest in this public-private partnership and look forward to many years of continued recreational use of the property."

Reach Scott Broden at 615-278-5158 and sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.